As of 10:30 Wednesday morning, the Red Wings hadn’t heard back from either of the two biggest catches on the free agent market.

They’ve made a 13 year, $90 million offer to Suter, who is their number one priority as they need to boost the back end after losing top-four defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart. The Wings have also tendered an offer to forward Zach Parise. Suter and Parise, both 27, are being chased by several teams, including Philadelphia, Chicago and Minnesota.

The Minnesota Wild could be on the verge of pulling off one of the biggest free-agent coups in NHL history. Reports are emerging that Minnesota could be close to landing Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter and New Jersey forward Zach Parise, who are easily the most coveted free agents on the market this summer.

Michael Russo, a Wild beat writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reported late Tuesday night that Parise was in Minneosta to meet with officials for the Wild, who also sent a contingent to Madison, Wis., to meet Suter face-to-face.

The Detroit Red Wings, who also would love to sign both players, sent owner Mike Ilitch, general manager Ken Holland and advisor Chris Chelios to Madison Tuesday in an effort to sign Suter.

“The Wild has made gargantuan long-term contract offers to both players,” Russo wrote. “Exact figures haven’t emerged, but teams interested in Parise are believed to be offering contracts worth $100 million and more, and Suter more than $80 million.

“Now it’s only a matter of the two deciding if they want to play together in Minnesota and be part of package to help shape the future of a franchise or choose other destinations. Yes, there is a likelihood the Wild will either land both or neither.”

This morning, Russo wrote on his blog. “Today could be the day that Zach Parise and Ryan Suter make their big decisions, and things are tracking in a positive way if you’re a Wild fan. The Wild executed a bigtime power play yesterday in an attempt to land both the highly-coveted New Jersey Devils captain and Nashville Predators defenseman.”
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This morning, [Josh] Rimer Tweeted, “I strongly believe now especially after my interview last night with Parise, that him and Suter are a package Deal! I’m also feeling pretty strongly that they’ll both be pulling on Minnesota Wild Jersey’s this season.”

Suter’s agent, Neil Sheehy, told MLive.com in an email late Tuesday night that “I don’t know for sure” when Suter will make a decision. “Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

Could it be a happy Fourth of July for the Red Wings?It probably will be for at least one NHL team, as it appears free agent defenseman Ryan Suter will make a decision on where to play next season — and beyond.

Suter’s agent, Neil Sheehy, told the Sportsnet television network in Canada Wednesday morning that a decision “likely” will be announced Wednesday afternoon. Paul Ostby, and agent at the firm Sheehy Hockey, wrote on Twitter: “Client Ryan Suter plans on making a decision today.”

Sheehy did not respond to phone calls and e-mails from The Detroit News early Wednesday morning.

Team officials from the Red Wings and Minnesota Wild both met with Suter, an unrestricted free agent who played with the Nashville Predators last season, on his farm Tuesday in Madison, Wis.

The Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers all have aggressively shown interest in Suter. The Flyers reportedly have offered Suter a contract worth over $100 million spread out over 12 years, but did not meet face-to-face with him over the past couple days.

The Wings have reportedly offered Suter a 13-year contract worth $90 million, which would make for a salary cap hit of roughly $6.9 million.

As for the other prized free agent, forward Zach Parise, reports Wednesday morning out of Minneapolis indicate he and Suter both could be headed to the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have missed the playoffs the last four seasons and don’t have the prestige or history of the Red Wings, or the other teams that have been chasing Parise and Suter. But Parise is from Minneapolis, and Suter’s home isn’t far away in Madison.

Parise reportedly met with Wild officials Tuesday night, after Suter had met with them, as well as a Wings delegation that included owner Mike Ilitch, general manager Ken Holland and advisor to hockey operations Chris Chelios.

Ryan Suter will make his decision today, according to NHL agent Paul Ostby via Twitter.Ostby Tweeted, “Client Ryan Suter plans on making a decision today.” Neil Sheehy is Suter’s agent.

The Wings paid a face-to-face visit with Suter, 27, on Tuesday, as did the Minnesota Wild. Detroit made a 13 year, $90 million offer to Suter.

There are reports that say Suter and Zach Parise are both leaning towards signing with the Wild. The Wings have also tendered an offer to Parise, 27.

Michael Russo, the Wild beat writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reported that the Wild are believed to be offering contracts worth $100 million and more to Parise and more than $80 million to Suter.

Suter leaving for the Wild will be a big blow to the Wings, who are looking to reload on the blue line after Nicklas Lidstrom retired and Brad Stuart was traded to San Jose.

The free agent market was slim to begin with on defense and it could open up the Wings to possibly trading for a top defenseman.

Garth, I know that but with Geno looking fo his payday and the cap going down in the new cba in all likelihood, how would that work? I never felt threatened by Pittsburgh, or Chicago, I always felt is was either/or

Posted by
Booyah!
from chicago on 07/04/12 at 01:05 PM ET

George just retweeted:

Dave Molinari ‏@MolinariPG

Pittsburgh is OFFICIALLY OUT on Zach Parise. He will not be joining the Penguins.

Posted by
Bugsy
on 07/04/12 at 01:06 PM ET

Well, if the CBA changes and the cap goes down then there will probably be a salary rollback like there was when the cap first came around.

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